VEHICLE modification and overloading remain two major threats to road safety and road conditions in the absence of almost any oversight. Vehicle modification, which is done for overloading, and overloading without any modification are rampant. The authorities, as New Age reported on April 14, are said often to be giving in to the pressure of transport owners and operators not to take action against such violations. Half of the 10 axle load control centres on important highways are dysfunctional. Whilst the figure is far too inadequate for any control worth the name, the authorities have also not been able to control overloading where axle load control centres are functional because of obstruction by transport owners and workers, as Roads and Highways officials say. Even an official of the Road Transport Owners’ Association says that heavy vehicles, especially trucks, are modified to carry 25 to 30 tonnes of goods when they are meant to carry only 15 tonnes. Road Transport Authority officials say that the control centres at Sitakunda, Meghna, Bathuli, Char Sindr and Patuakhali are functional, but the centres at Daudkandi, Ghorashal Bridge, Bhairab Bridge, Benapole and Ramgarh are dysfunctional.
Roads and highways, which are built to withstand certain loads, are damaged because of overloading. This also remains a major drain on public funds. Accident Research Institute statistics suggest that heavy vehicles account for 22.5–25 per cent of fatal traffic accidents. This makes steps against modification and overloading pressing for the government. Whilst the responsibility for oversight against vehicle modification and overloading lies with the Road Transport Authority, the police are ultimately responsible for taking steps against modification and overloading on the road. People managing the axle load centres can call on magistrates to take action in cases of breach, and the Highway Police can file cases over such violations. But it hardly happens. The people responsible for enforcement and those blamed for standing in conflict with the law that New Age spoke to have spoken about or suggested underhand dealing in the management of the violations. A project to set up axle load control centres, taken up in September 2019 at the cost of Tk 16.30 billion, has faced delays. When the project was taken, it aimed at setting up 28 centres. Now, with deadline extensions, now until June 2026, the number of centres has dropped to 25 at the cost of Tk 16.09 billion. Yet, the project has a physical progress of 57 per cent and financial progress of 28 per cent.
It is, therefore, imperative that the government step up enforcement against vehicle modification and overloading. The government should also set up more axle load control centres at the earliest.
